Hair Extensions For Thinning Hair: Before And After

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Pardon my bald spot.

My experience with micro beaded weft hair extensions for thinning hair...

I wore micro beaded weft extensions for about 4 years straight with no breaks. Below I'll discuss my experience wearing this type of hair extension with my thinning hair from androgenic alopecia and the upkeep requirements for this type of hair extension method.

In case you're not super familiar with this method...These extensions are composed of hair that is in a weft. Small portions of the weft extensions strands are paired with small batches of your own bio hair and secured with a bead at the root.

In my opinion all hair extensions may be damaging and I encourage you to discuss these methods further with your stylist. This way your level of thinning and the strength of your hair can be evaluated.

But why choose micro beaded weft extensions?

Originally I had wanted to use the halo extension. I thought this extension was probably the least damaging because it wasn’t attached to my actual hair.

If you're not familiar with this method the halo extension is a temporary hair extension. With halo extensions a weft of hair is attached to an invisible wire and is placed over your head and can be camouflaged by pulling your bio hair over the wire.

But when I tried it out I really disliked the way the halo extensions felt on my head. I was so worried that it was going to slide off (my stylist help fit it to my head. So it wasn’t that it wasn’t secure).

I also felt like because my hair was so thin at the top of my head the wire was visible. So I decided to use clip-in extensions instead. You can find my preferred brand of hair extensions HERE.

But when I made the decision to switch from clip in extensions to beaded weft extensions I was really focusing on convenience. I was fed up with having to clip-in and clip-out hair and wanted something semi-permanent.

I considered the fact that my hair was actively thinning and thought about the consequences of having an extension applied that would cause tension and stress on my thin hair.

I would urge you to really think about this choice and talk to your stylist and physician about your level of thinning before making any decision about hair extension method.

Ultimately I did decide I didn’t care (this was years ago) and moved forward with micro beaded weft extensions.

What are some features of micro beaded weft extensions that influenced my decision making?

My scalp is very sensitive and this process required no heat, tape, glue, or harsh chemicals
The application method was quick. It took about an hour.
Using a weft may reduce the amount of hair breakage and tangling than individual extensions...This was what my hair stylist had mentioned but I can't say there's evidence of this? So take this info with a grain of salt...
The hair studio that I went to only specialized in this method. I felt good about seeing a professional in this method…Okay...and the location of the studio was 20 min from me (I know.. not the best reason to move forward. But you live and you learn and I already told you I'm all about convenience).
The hair studio I went to had tons of different textures, colors, and lengths. Before I began getting beaded weft extensions from there, I would have clip-in extensions customized for me at this location if I wanted different colors than just my usual brown. So I already was familiar with the hair quality and knew it was great.

How long did the hair last?

This depends on a few factors like how well the hair has been maintained, the brand, the texture etc. But generally if taken care of well, the hair may last about a year.

How many rows did you have?

When I say "row" I'm talking about a weft of hair. Think of a weft as kind of a "hair curtain". I know that sounds so weird... But that's basically what it is. It's like hair that is sewn into a row and added to a parting of your own bio hair by your stylist.

I wanted the most hair ever when I started out using this hair extension method. As you know, I have very thin hair and my goal was to achieve fullness.

For a year or two I was always using three rows of hair extensions. But after about two years of this I switched down to two rows to reduce the potential damage to my hair.

In my opinion...More rows = more potential damage to my bio hair.

Did micro beaded weft extensions damage your bio hair?

I had these extensions in for about four years straight. No breaks. Looking back I think it’s so important to take breaks and give your bio hair a rest by going extension free for a few months.

If I could do it over again I would have protected my bio hair more by giving my hair a break. My hair was significantly thinner once I removed the extensions than when I first got them.

I also did experience some patchy areas of hair thinning where the micro beads were placed... Please see my blog post HERE on traction alopecia to learn more about the damage that can occur from tension on the hair. Luckily, these areas filled back in over time.

My hair may also have gotten thinner because when I had all that hair attached to my head I got kind of lazy with my hair loss treatment regimen. I'd look in the mirror and see tons of hair and it's almost like it fooled me into thinking my hair was good... and not actively thinning due to my androgenic alopecia. I refer to this as a "the hair-extension trap."

I think it's important to remember that if you have androgenic alopecia... this is a progressive hair loss condition.

You need to keep up with your treatment regimen if you'd like to slow or stop your hair loss progression. That means consistent effort over the long-term.

Micro beaded weft extension upkeep...

When I had these extensions I would go in every 6 to 8 weeks (talk with your stylist because times may vary) to have my wefts moved up closer to my scalp.

Why?

Because as your hair grows out (on average about half an inch a month) the bead and extension move further away from the scalp.

Then it’s time to take out the extensions in order to get them positioned closer to your scalp again. In order to do this your stylist will use a tool to uncrimp the beads and slide your hair out.

Woooo! I love this part! Finally, I can run my hands through my hair and get a good head scratch in! I've linked my favorite scalp massager HERE.

I remember a time when one of the beads at the edge of the weft broke and my weft was drooping down on that side.

Cool…Cool...Cool...

So the beads can definitely wear out with your daily hair styling and just overall hair care.

Something else my stylist did was… Everytime I came in to have my wefts moved up, my stylist took the wefts out, completely.

I think this is an important point to consider and urge you to discuss this with your stylist.

She gave me all new beads before reapplying the extensions. This repositioning of the wefts with the beads allowed the pressure of the extensions to not always be on my same bio-hairs which I thought to be especially important because of my active hair loss.

Some stylists I have been to will just open the old beads up and then slide the weft up along with the bio hair and then clamp the old bead closed again. This keeps the tension on those same hairs. Just something you may want to think about and further discuss with your stylist...

Washing my hair with micro beaded hair extensions...

Let me tell you...This was such a hassle.

My stylist had cautioned me about not to washing my hair extensions too often (just about once a week) to prevent them from drying out.

But this was an issue for me because I used a ketoconazole shampoo (you can find this linked below as Nizoral) on my hair a few times a week.

For more information on why I use ketoconazole shampoo as part of my hair loss treatment regimen, check the blog post HERE.

So what did I do?

You guessed it… I sectioned my hair and lathered just the top of my head (which was extension free) with shampoo. Then I would wash the top of my head in the sink.

Glamorous.

On the days where I would wash all of my hair (not the top of my head) I would use the Pureology shampoo (purple bottle) I have linked below as opposed to the ketoconazole shampoo.

But afterwards I would find myself getting out of the shower wondering…Did I rinse out all of the shampoo?

For me it was important to take my time when washing my hair in the shower. I’d take extra care to separate my hair into sections in order to ensure the water got in between the wefts and washed away any residual shampoo.

I also used conditioner and applied it to the ends of my hair (Bio-hair + extensions) every time I showered. (See my favorite conditioners linked in the images below from Pureology and Olaplex).

I would also use a leave-in conditioner to help further moisturize my hair. The products I used are listed below. Please note that other than ketoconazole shampoo, these products are my favorite for use with extensions and bio hair and have nothing to do with fighting hair loss.

These shampoos and conditioners have remained part of my routine even without hair extensions because of how they make my hair feel.

The leave-in conditioner (in the spray bottle) is a staple product for me. It doesn't smell the best but it doesn't make my hair smell bad.

My Pros and Cons for wearing beaded weft extensions:

Pro: Convenience. This was the reason I wore these extensions for years. I loved that I could get ready and not worry about having to clip-in a bunch of extensions. I would struggle with positioning certain clips on my head with clip-in extensions and that was always so frustrating.

Then, because my hair is thin I’d usually have to back comb my hair to get the clips to actually hold my hair and not slide down. But now I use this product linked HERE by Got2b which gives my hair enough texture to hold the clips and avoid the back combing for the most part.

With the beaded wefts everything is in place and you’re ready to go. No hassling over clip placement.

Pro: They can look realistic and add fullness and length. We've all seen bad hair extensions but if you go to a great salon they can match your hair texture and blend them with your bio hair. The added hair definitely helped with my confidence.

Con: They don’t lay perfectly flat on your head: Because a bead is used for this method these extensions do not lay completely flat. This is something you may want to consider. For me, this was never an issue and I did not feel like it was noticeable. I think where your stylist positions the weft on your scalp is important in giving a natural look.

Con: The tangling is real: The products you use to care for your extensions can play a major role in tangling. So be sure to use great quality products like the ones I have listed above.

When washing my hair I would try to keep my extension hair straight in order to prevent potential tangles, and slowly work the shampoo from the top of my head to the bottom of the extension. After washing my hair my stylist recommended that I use a wide-tooth comb and start at the bottom of the hair and then work my way up. I found this method to be critical.

Con: They can be uncomfortable: The beads can feel thick and bulky in your head. Again, this wasn’t enough to stop me from getting them. I didn’t enjoy the process of having my extensions moved up because it could feel a little tight against my scalp. But after a few days I didn’t notice it.

The first night after having them installed always felt a little uncomfortable because of how tight the beads felt. (Remember: a tight hairstyle can cause traction alopecia, so if something feels too tight talk to your stylist about having it loosened).

In general my stylist recommended I sleep with my hair in a low braid to prevent the hair getting tangled or matted during the night.

Con: The cost. This really added up over the years as opposed to me just using a set of clip-in extensions.

Would I ever go back to micro beaded hair extensions?

I loved having these extensions.

Loved.

But currently, at this stage in my hair loss journey, I’m more focused on doing what I can to protect my bio hair.

As I previously mentioned above, when I was getting beaded weft extensions (years ago), protecting my bio hair was not my main focus. I just wanted full, beautiful hair, and I would look in the mirror with my extensions installed and I would see that.

I noticed I felt more confident, and some days I would totally forget about my alopecia. It’s hard to describe…but when I had the extensions in, I thought less about how my hair was actively thinning and what damage the extensions might be causing.

I think as I’ve gotten older I’m more focused on temporary methods like hair toppers, and clip-in extensions. Then I like to use hair fibers and fill-in powders. You can find my post about the tools I use almost daily to conceal my hair thinning linked HERE. I don’t want something constantly pulling on my hair and causing stress and tension at my roots.

I hope you found this post helpful! Thank you for reading!

XOXO

-Riley

My experience with micro beaded weft hair extensions for thinning hair...

I wore micro beaded weft extensions for about 4 years straight with no breaks. Below I'll discuss my experience wearing this type of hair extension with my thinning hair from androgenic alopecia and the upkeep requirements for this type of hair extension method.

In case you're not super familiar with this method...These extensions are composed of hair that is in a weft. Small portions of the weft extensions strands are paired with small batches of your own bio hair and secured with a bead at the root.

In my opinion all hair extensions may be damaging and I encourage you to discuss these methods further with your stylist. This way your level of thinning and the strength of your hair can be evaluated.

But why choose micro beaded weft extensions?

Originally I had wanted to use the halo extension. I thought this extension was probably the least damaging because it wasn’t attached to my actual hair.

If you're not familiar with this method the halo extension is a temporary hair extension. With halo extensions a weft of hair is attached to an invisible wire and is placed over your head and can be camouflaged by pulling your bio hair over the wire.

But when I tried it out I really disliked the way the halo extensions felt on my head. I was so worried that it was going to slide off (my stylist help fit it to my head. So it wasn’t that it wasn’t secure).

I also felt like because my hair was so thin at the top of my head the wire was visible. So I decided to use clip-in extensions instead. You can find my preferred brand of hair extensions HERE.

But when I made the decision to switch from clip in extensions to beaded weft extensions I was really focusing on convenience. I was fed up with having to clip-in and clip-out hair and wanted something semi-permanent.

I considered the fact that my hair was actively thinning and thought about the consequences of having an extension applied that would cause tension and stress on my thin hair.

I would urge you to really think about this choice and talk to your stylist and physician about your level of thinning before making any decision about hair extension method.

Ultimately I did decide I didn’t care (this was years ago) and moved forward with micro beaded weft extensions.

What are some features of micro beaded weft extensions that influenced my decision making?

My scalp is very sensitive and this process required no heat, tape, glue, or harsh chemicals

The application method was quick. It took about an hour.

Using a weft may reduce the amount of hair breakage and tangling than individual extensions...This was what my hair stylist had mentioned but I can't say there's evidence of this? So take this info with a grain of salt...

How long did the hair last?

This depends on a few factors like how well the hair has been maintained, the brand, the texture etc. But generally if taken care of well, the hair may last about a year.

How many rows did you have?

When I say "row" I'm talking about a weft of hair. Think of a weft as kind of a "hair curtain". I know that sounds so weird... But that's basically what it is. It's like hair that is sewn into a row and added to a parting of your own bio hair by your stylist.

I wanted the most hair ever when I started out using this hair extension method. As you know, I have very thin hair and my goal was to achieve fullness.

For a year or two I was always using three rows of hair extensions. But after about two years of this I switched down to two rows to reduce the potential damage to my hair.

In my opinion...More rows = more potential damage to my bio hair.

Did micro beaded weft extensions damage your bio hair?

I had these extensions in for about four years straight. No breaks. Looking back I think it’s so important to take breaks and give your bio hair a rest by going extension free for a few months.

If I could do it over again I would have protected my bio hair more by giving my hair a break. My hair was significantly thinner once I removed the extensions than when I first got them.

I also did experience some patchy areas of hair thinning where the micro beads were placed... Please see my blog post HERE on traction alopecia to learn more about the damage that can occur from tension on the hair. Luckily, these areas filled back in over time.

I think it's important to remember that if you have androgenic alopecia... this is a progressive hair loss condition.

You need to keep up with your treatment regimen if you'd like to slow or stop your hair loss progression. That means consistent effort over the long-term.

Micro beaded weft extension upkeep...

When I had these extensions I would go in every 6 to 8 weeks (talk with your stylist because times may vary) to have my wefts moved up closer to my scalp.

Why?

Because as your hair grows out (on average about half an inch a month) the bead and extension move further away from the scalp.

Then it’s time to take out the extensions in order to get them positioned closer to your scalp again. In order to do this your stylist will use a tool to uncrimp the beads and slide your hair out.

Woooo! I love this part! Finally, I can run my hands through my hair and get a good head scratch in! I've linked my favorite scalp massager HERE.

I remember a time when one of the beads at the edge of the weft broke and my weft was drooping down on that side.

Cool…Cool...Cool...

So the beads can definitely wear out with your daily hair styling and just overall hair care.

Something else my stylist did was… Everytime I came in to have my wefts moved up, my stylist took the wefts out, completely.

I think this is an important point to consider and urge you to discuss this with your stylist.

She gave me all new beads before reapplying the extensions. This repositioning of the wefts with the beads allowed the pressure of the extensions to not always be on my same bio-hairs which I thought to be especially important because of my active hair loss.

Some stylists I have been to will just open the old beads up and then slide the weft up along with the bio hair and then clamp the old bead closed again. This keeps the tension on those same hairs. Just something you may want to think about and further discuss with your stylist...

Washing my hair with micro beaded hair extensions...

Let me tell you...This was such a hassle.

My stylist had cautioned me about not to washing my hair extensions too often (just about once a week) to prevent them from drying out.

But this was an issue for me because I used a ketoconazole shampoo (you can find this linked below as Nizoral) on my hair a few times a week.

For more information on why I use ketoconazole shampoo as part of my hair loss treatment regimen, check the blog post HERE.

So what did I do?

You guessed it… I sectioned my hair and lathered just the top of my head (which was extension free) with shampoo. Then I would wash the top of my head in the sink.

Glamorous.

On the days where I would wash all of my hair (not the top of my head) I would use the Pureology shampoo (purple bottle) I have linked below as opposed to the ketoconazole shampoo.

But afterwards I would find myself getting out of the shower wondering…Did I rinse out all of the shampoo?

For me it was important to take my time when washing my hair in the shower. I’d take extra care to separate my hair into sections in order to ensure the water got in between the wefts and washed away any residual shampoo.

I also used conditioner and applied it to the ends of my hair (Bio-hair + extensions) every time I showered. (See my favorite conditioners linked in the images below from Pureology and Olaplex).

I would also use a leave-in conditioner to help further moisturize my hair. The products I used are listed below. Please note that other than ketoconazole shampoo, these products are my favorite for use with extensions and bio hair and have nothing to do with fighting hair loss.

These shampoos and conditioners have remained part of my routine even without hair extensions because of how they make my hair feel.

The leave-in conditioner (in the spray bottle) is a staple product for me. It doesn't smell the best but it doesn't make my hair smell bad.

My Pros and Cons for wearing beaded weft extensions:

Pro: Convenience. This was the reason I wore these extensions for years. I loved that I could get ready and not worry about having to clip-in a bunch of extensions. I would struggle with positioning certain clips on my head with clip-in extensions and that was always so frustrating.

Then, because my hair is thin I’d usually have to back comb my hair to get the clips to actually hold my hair and not slide down. But now I use this product linked HERE by Got2b which gives my hair enough texture to hold the clips and avoid the back combing for the most part.

With the beaded wefts everything is in place and you’re ready to go. No hassling over clip placement.

Pro: They can look realistic and add fullness and length. We've all seen bad hair extensions but if you go to a great salon they can match your hair texture and blend them with your bio hair. The added hair definitely helped with my confidence.

Con: The tangling is real: The products you use to care for your extensions can play a major role in tangling. So be sure to use great quality products like the ones I have listed above.

Con: They can be uncomfortable: The beads can feel thick and bulky in your head. Again, this wasn’t enough to stop me from getting them. I didn’t enjoy the process of having my extensions moved up because it could feel a little tight against my scalp. But after a few days I didn’t notice it.

The first night after having them installed always felt a little uncomfortable because of how tight the beads felt. (Remember: a tight hairstyle can cause traction alopecia, so if something feels too tight talk to your stylist about having it loosened).

In general my stylist recommended I sleep with my hair in a low braid to prevent the hair getting tangled or matted during the night.

Con: The cost. This really added up over the years as opposed to me just using a set of clip-in extensions.

Would I ever go back to micro beaded hair extensions?

I loved having these extensions.

Loved.

But currently, at this stage in my hair loss journey, I’m more focused on doing what I can to protect my bio hair.

As I previously mentioned above, when I was getting beaded weft extensions (years ago), protecting my bio hair was not my main focus. I just wanted full, beautiful hair, and I would look in the mirror with my extensions installed and I would see that.

I noticed I felt more confident, and some days I would totally forget about my alopecia. It’s hard to describe…but when I had the extensions in, I thought less about how my hair was actively thinning and what damage the extensions might be causing.

I hope you found this post helpful! Thank you for reading!

XOXO

-Riley

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